RYAN: It's time for Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Capitalism: A Love Story."
CAROLINE: I didn't get to see it with you. Talk to me.
RYAN: I like him as a documentary filmmaker primarily because he's entertaining. This is typical Michael Moore fare; he likes to be controversial and press buttons. At this point, he's pretty recognizable, so some of the people he's trying to hoodwink in the movie are onto him.
CAROLINE: I thought just that when I was watching the trailer. He's trying to ask a bunch of Wall Street guys what a derivative is and it seemed like a lot of them knew exactly who he was and what he was trying to do.
RYAN: Meanwhile, barely anyone knows what a derivative is anyway. I'm not very into politics and economics, as you know - pop culture's more my thing - so the topic of this movie isn't inherently appealing to me. But it's interesting to see how it all affects our lives. I know there are many differences of opinion on Michael Moore's tactics, but I think we can all agree that some improvements can be made in our current system.
CAROLINE: I'm just a little bit over Michael Moore's in-your-face ways lately.
RYAN: He's basically making the argument that we say we're a democratic society, but really we're capitalistic. We're all taught in school that America is a democracy, but he doesn't see it that way. He's focusing on capitalism and why it's not working.
CAROLINE: Does he propose an alternative?
RYAN: Well, yeah. Socialism, basically. He doesn't say it outright, but that's where he leans.
CAROLINE: Well, that was evident from "Sicko." I can't say I'm too interested in this movie, though I have enjoyed some of his previous films.
-- BOTTOM LINE -- RYAN: If you like documentaries, this is an entertaining one. It's never boring and it doesn't feel preachy even though he's a man with a megaphone. It raises interesting questions at least.
CAROLINE: It's not for everyone, I'm sure. Michael Moore haters and crooked Wall St. types probably won't care for it.
RYAN: True. But as far as documentaries go, his are always spirited and fun, where others can be deathly boring. So I applaud him for that.
RYAN: It's a big week this Trailer Tuesdays with lots of new movies coming out. Let's start with one of the two we're most excited about.
CAROLINE: I seriously can't wait for "The Invention of Lying." It stars one of our faves, Jennifer Garner, and also Ricky Gervais, who I'm a little bit in love with in an intellectual way after last year's "Ghost Town."
RYAN: You're just saying that because he's smart, funny, fat and ugly.
CAROLINE: [laughs] I can't say he's super attractive, but I really like him and I think this movie looks hilarious and perfect for him.
RYAN: He has a way of always working on stuff he's written or picking parts that are very much his sensibility, which to me implies that he's not a great actor. We may get to the point where we realize he's the same in every movie; but we're not there yet.
CAROLINE: He's only starred in a couple movies so far, so we'll see. I just love the premise of this one, that no one in the world can lie. Everyone speaks the brutal truth, obviously to hilarious effect. It looks great - here's the trailer:
RYAN: Next up is "Whip It," Drew Barrymore's directorial debut which stars Ellen Page of "Juno" fame. And Drew is in it too.
CAROLINE: Not to mention our favorite gal from "SNL," Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis and Marcia Gay Harden as Ellen Page's mom. I'm so looking forward to this movie. It's about roller derby and we've been hearing about it for months. It better deliver.
RYAN: It looks very fun and silly, and I love how Ellen and Drew have been doing some racy girl-on-girl promotion for it.
CAROLINE: I like how they wear girl scout uniforms as their roller derby outfits.
RYAN: I think it'll be good, but I'm willing to bet Drew Barrymore had lots of help with the directing.
CAROLINE: True, but it looks like a real girl power movie, which is right up Drew's alley. I can't wait. Check out the trailer here:
RYAN: There's also a new Michael Moore documentary out, "Capitalism: A Love Story."
CAROLINE: I think I've reached my Michael Moore tipping point. I'm tired of his rants, and this movie just seems annoying. He's just trying to rile people up with whatever the hot topic of the day is.
RYAN: It's possible that he's maxed out his pop cultural relevance, but I still like his storytelling techniques. As far as documentaries go, his are always entertaining at the very least.
CAROLINE: I just don't understand his whole campaign about losing weight. He's still as fat as ever.
RYAN: [laughs] And why must he put his disheveled self in all of his movies? Here's the trailer:
CAROLINE: Also worth mentioning, though we're not quite as excited for it, is the new Coen brothers movie, "A Serious Man." I've only seen the trailer once and it was very odd. I don't think I understand it.
RYAN: Well, the Coens are known for being a little bit twisted in their movie making. But there's no one famous in this, which irritates me.
CAROLINE: And the whole trailer is set to music in a very grating way. I'm not really feeling this movie.
RYAN: I'm with you. But it is the Coens - we should probably give it a shot. Check out the trailer here:
CAROLINE: Finally, Woody Harrelson has a strange-looking new movie, "Zombieland."
RYAN: It co-stars Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and lil' Abigail Breslin, but I'd rather not get into it. This movie doesn't appeal to me even a little.
CAROLINE: Yeah, the trailer is basically just a series of zombie killings. I don't really get it. Here's the trailer:
CAROLINE: In honor of its 70th anniversary, "The Wizard of Oz" is being released for the first time on blu-ray DVD tomorrow, and I don't know how you've managed to hold yourself together.
RYAN: Seriously, it's all I've ever wanted. I've been dying for the movie on iTunes forever and it's finally all coming out. Tomorrow we get that, the blu-ray, the newly restored version on DVD - it's dream come true material.
CAROLINE: Well for little girls and boys like you.
RYAN: Please. Oz fans come in every age.
CAROLINE: So what's in this new version?
RYAN: Well the film has been repackaged 18 times on home video, VHS, Beta, laser disc, DVD, etc. But this time out it really looks and sounds better than ever. I attended a screening of it at the New York Film festival this weekend and it was truly like seeing it for the first time.
CAROLINE: You're beginning to sound like a commercial.
RYAN: Well it is my favorite movie.
CAROLINE: I've read some cool things about the blu-ray, like, there are many new hours of extras, a collectors watch, book, etc...
RYAN: It's limited to less than 250,000 copies. And I'm psyched about the inclusion of a TV movie called "The Dreamer of Oz" about L. Frank Baum, which I haven't seen since it aired in 1990!
CAROLINE: OK, simmer down. How was the Oz party you attended in celebration of the film's 70th?
RYAN: It was beyond. The party was fab and the yellow brick-red carpet was excellent.
CAROLINE: I know you talked to Judy Garland's daughter, Lorna Luft.
RYAN: She's very cool. And Ashanti was there to perform her new version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
CAROLINE: Didn't she just play Dorothy in the Broadway revival of "The Wiz"?
RYAN: Yes. And she also played her in "The Muppet's Wizard of Oz." But I almost lost it, meeting one of only six remaining munchkins from the movie - Jerry Maren, who was actually one of the Lollipop Guild munchkins.
CAROLINE: [laughs] Did he sing it for you?
RYAN: Yes!
CAROLINE: [laughs] Really?
RYAN: You can hear it under the 'celeb interviews' section at MoxieQ!
RYAN: I'm just gonna say it. "Fame" is easily one of the worst movies of the year.
CAROLINE: Wow! Really?! How can that be?
RYAN: It was just completely disjointed. You don't even care about the kids, and even though it's contemporary, it's totally puritanical.
CAROLINE: Damn. I was really excited to see this, and would have gone with you had I not been out with my folks.
RYAN: I was really excited for it too, especially because I always want musicals to do well; but the high school in this movie is the most prudish in America. The kids wait till junior year to have their first kiss, when in reality, we know they'd be pregnant and dropping out by then.
CAROLINE: [laughs] OK, that's ridic, but what about the awesome singing and dancing numbers we were so psyched for?
RYAN: There was one great dance number that is the best scene in the movie. But aside from that, it's completely lackluster, unemotional and uninspired. The plot doesn't spend enough time with any one kid or story line for you to get properly invested. Ultimately, it's just boring.
CAROLINE: I am so surprised. What about Kherington, who we love from "So You Think You Can Dance"?
RYAN: She's a great dancer of course, but she only has four lines; and just from those, you can tell she can't act.
CAROLINE: What about the teacher folk?
RYAN: OMG - Megan Mullally plays a singing teacher and in one scene she's coaxed by the kids to sing, and we were literally laughing at how bad she was. But the kids in the movie are amazed by how great she is. I was like, "Are we hearing the same voice?" It's totally bizarre.
CAROLINE: What about Debbie Allen? She was in the original, of course.
RYAN: It's great to see her in this, but it's a thankless role. And Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth are barely in it. Bebe was the best of the bunch though.
CAROLINE: So did it confirm my fear that it's not actually a remake of "Fame," but just another "High School Musical"-esque movie with bunch of hot kids dancing around?
RYAN: Let's just say I liked "High School Musical 3" better than this. The biggest travesty of all is that you spend the whole movie waiting to hear their remake of the "Fame" theme song, and you finally get it... during the credits!
CAROLINE: Wait, it's not a part of the film?!
RYAN: No. It was playing over the damn credits. Unreal.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
RYAN: This movie is a missed opportunity. Barely any of the songs and scenes from the original are revisited. It's not worth your time.
RYAN: Loved those movies, didn't love him. He's now doing these over-the-top facial expressions and reactions that are so campy they took me right out of the movie. He's become a caricature of an actor otherwise known s Bruce Willis. But some of his performance was fine.
CAROLINE: So did this movie meet all your wildest sci-fi expectations?
RYAN: Partially. It's very sci-fi and robot futuristic, but it's also got the typical Bruce Willis action fare.
CAROLINE: Level with me - would I have liked it?
RYAN: I think so. It's very short at about 90 minutes. It's interesting and the action is great. Ving Rhames, however, is very odd-looking and has a strange hairstyle.
CAROLINE: Since when does Ving Rhames even have hair?
RYAN: Exactly. But everyone looks kinda bad in the movie because it's the future and they're letting their surrogate robots live their lives, so they're all fat and gluttonous like the characters in "Wall-E."
CAROLINE: Is there a love interest?
RYAN: There's a minor love story with Bruce Willis and his wife but it's not a huge part of the film.
CAROLINE: It sounds OK, but I can't say I'm dying to see it or anything. Especially because it's Disney and therefore targeting the young 'uns.
RYAN: Well, it's PG-13, so it's not for the very young. But I bet most kids will think it's cool.
-- BOTTOM LINE -- RYAN: It's a fun, light-hearted futuristic warning film that I enjoyed, but it's not necessarily something you have to run out and see. It's a little cheesy, but straightforward and quick. Basically, it's a popcorn movie. -- RATING --
CAROLINE: "Bright Star" is the new movie about John Keats from director Jane Campion which has garnered all kinds of surprising Oscar buzz for Abbie Cornish, who was formerly known as the girl who broke up Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's marriage.
RYAN: It's about time she made a name for herself. I didn't get to see this one with you. How was it?
CAROLINE: I actually got to attend the premiere at the Paris Theatre, which was pretty cool. Jane Campion and the whole cast was there. As for the movie, I was into it for about 45 minutes, and then I got bored. I quickly realized that not much was gonna happen other than the men writing poetry, the women sewing and the kids playing in fields of lavender.
RYAN: So it's another dull period piece?
CAROLINE: Well, I hesitate to say that because it's very well made; this is from the woman who made "The Piano" lest we forget. The love story between Keats and Fanny Brawne is the focus, but not much else happens.
RYAN: The trailer looked really good to me though. And I'm always interested in learning more about a love story between two real people in history, especially given the whole poet/muse relationship.
CAROLINE: Theoretically, I was interested too since I always love a love story. I can't I know much about the poetry of John Keats, but I was up for learning more about it. But he wasn't even a prolific poet since he died young and considered himself a failure. He didn't become celebrated till much later. So the movie is basically him sitting and writing with his friend, and then watching Abbie Cornish wait for his letters when he's away. And she sews.
RYAN: LBH, there wasn't much for the women to do back then except sew and cook.
CAROLINE: True, but that was part of the problem. It just got so boring in the second hour.
RYAN: Did you ever look at Abbie Cornish and think, "This movie would be so much better if it were Keira Knightley?"
CAROLINE: Not really. She held her own and did a good English accent. I thought she was very good, but I don't know if I would have called her Oscar worthy if I hadn't previously heard the buzz about her performance. I did notice that she's not as emaciated as your average movie star.
CAROLINE: He was good, but he's so skinny I found it hard to look at him. I really liked Paul Schneider, who played his friend. He was in that horrible "Assassination of Jesse James" movie, but he's a good actor. So overall, it had some redeeming things about it, but I found it very slow-moving. I was so ready for it to end.
RYAN: I don't think I want to see it.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
CAROLINE: I can appreciate this as a well made film, but I can't say I was truly entertained. It's more to be admired than anything else. Two hours was just too much. I tend to like period pieces, but this one was a little slow and overwrought for me.
RYAN: "Jennifer's Body" is the new movie starring Megan Fox, who's hotter than hot right now.
CAROLINE: Well between her alleged bad temper, her on/off relationship with David Silver, the self-confessed cutting and people saying she's a wench to work with, she's been having the best summer ever, press-wise.
RYAN: And she looks hot doing it. This movie is scary, hilarious and brilliant. I know I use the word "brilliant" a lot; but this time I'm serious.
CAROLINE: I'm so bummed I didn't get to go to this screening with you. At first I wasn't that psyched for it and thought it might be way cheesy, but now I'm dying to see it and will happily pay $12.50 to support the screenwriting efforts of Diablo Cody.
RYAN: It has a few cheesy moments, but it reminded me a lot of "Heathers," which is duh, one of our all-time faves. It has so many quotable lines. As we know, Diablo Cody won the Oscar for writing "Juno," and she has such a knack for adolescent dialogue and creating new vernacular.
CAROLINE: That's cool, but some of the wacky language in "Juno" wound up being more irritating than anything else. I'm not looking forward to all the gore, but I'll try to get over it. I even had a dream last night that I saw this movie and that Diablo herself was in the audience.
RYAN: It's so worth seeing. The set design is outstanding. It has some true Shakespearean moments.
CAROLINE: How was Megan's acting? Because we all know she couldn't act to save her life in the "Transformers" movies. RYAN: The highest compliment I can pay her is that she's not bad.
CAROLINE: [laughs] What about Amanda Seyfried?
RYAN: She's unbelievable. All I know her is "Mamma Mia!" and TV's "Big Love," and I didn't know she had this in her.
CAROLINE: What about the much ballyhooed girl-on-girl make out scene? Seems gratuitous to moi.
RYAN: It's pretty fabulous. Also of note is Amy Sedaris as Amanda's mother. It's a pretty straightforward role, but just looking at her makes me want to laugh. Adam Brody from "The O.C." is in it too, and he's really cute and creepy.
CAROLINE: Your ringing endorsement has really inspired me. Clearly, I'll have to see it this weekend. RYAN: The only thing that's making me nervous about telling you how good it is is that you'll go in with too high expectations. I really didn't know what to expect when I saw it, so I was pleasantly surprised. But I don't want to over-hype it. -- BOTTOM LINE --
RYAN: It's gory but also really funny and scary, which is a fun combo. There's no inappropriate laughter at scary parts since there are actual funny scenes too. It's sexy and cool, and I'd recommend seeing it in the theater. And I was scared when I walked home afterward.
CAROLINE: It sounds so good! Why is no one seeing it? The box office for opening weekend was pathetic.
1. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," $30.1 million. 2. "The Informant!" $10.5 million. 3. "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," $10 million. 4. "Love Happens," $8.5 million. 5. "Jennifer's Body," $6.8 million. 6. "9," $5.5 million. 7. "Inglourious Basterds," $3.6 million. 8. "All About Steve," $3.4 million. 9. "Sorority Row," $2.5 million. 10. "The Final Destination," $2.4 million.
RYAN: I'm so peeved "Jennifer's Body" didn't open #1 this weekend. It really was so good.
CAROLINE: You've made that clear. But perhaps you're in the minority with that opinion.
RYAN: It was a real test to see whether Megan Fox could open a movie on her own but tabloid fame doesn't necessarily translate into ticket sales.
RYAN: "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" is a new animated film starring the voice talents of Bill Hader from TV's "SNL," Anna Faris, Niel Patrick Harris and Mr. T.
CAROLINE: I'm not that sorry I had to miss this movie, though I thought it had the potential to be very cute. How was it?
RYAN: Not so cute.
CAROLINE: Really?!
RYAN: Well, ok. It was cute but just not that good. I was bored. I usually love kids' movies, but this one disappointed me even though it's in IMAX 3D, where available. And the 3D was barely even noticeable.
CAROLINE: Wow, this is a real departure for you! I've never heard you bash a family film.
RYAN: Maybe I'm finally growing up. I was just really not all that entertained by this movie, primarily because the story is very simple and lame. I found the subplots much more interesting than the main story.
CAROLINE: How did the rest of the audience react?
RYAN: Some of the adults were guffawing randomly, and I couldn't figure out what they thought was so funny. I was like, "Wow, are you really enjoying it that much?" I don't think they were movie critics though.
CAROLINE: They were just the unwashed masses.
RYAN: I'm sure the kids will love it though. It's silly and mindless, and they'll get a kick of the food falling from the sky.
CAROLINE: I love Bill Hader. How was he?
RYAN: His voice was fine, and Anna Faris was fine too, but I'd much rather see them in a movie. And the animation wasn't even that great. It just sort of looked like a Christmas special, like "Frosty the Snowman." I just wasn't really a fan of this movie if you hadn't gathered that yet.
CAROLINE: I'm sorry to hear that. Of all the kids' movies that have come out lately, this one looked like it actually potential. Guess not.
RYAN: I'm sad that I missed "Ponyo" because that really looked good to me. I'm gonna go ahead and recommend it over this movie even though I didn't see it. -- BOTTOM LINE -- RYAN: It's a sure bet for the kids, but I thought the story was lame. I don't think adults will like it.
RYAN: Steven Soderbergh's latest film, "The Informant!" stars Matt Damon in a very paunchy role. CAROLINE: I love Matt Damon so I was very interested in seeing this, but I merely liked it. Didn't love it. It got boring after a while.
RYAN: We're entering Oscar season and Matt Damon has buzz for this role, and with Soderbergh directing, it has a lot going for it. My expectations were high. The script is very good, and it's based on a true story. I wonder how much is true though.
CAROLINE: There's a funny disclaimer at the beginning that says they took some liberties with the story, but that's to be expected. I really liked the movie at first, but then it got a little tedious and talky. I think I even dozed for a minute.
RYAN: Well, what else is new? I'm not in love with this movie, but I was definitely entertained. There's a lot going on and you're always trying to figure out who's telling the truth and where people stand on what issues. Sorry to be vague, but I don't want to give anything away. And I loved the opening credit sequence because the score is so fantastic.
CAROLINE: The music is very fun, comedic and light but slightly baffling in tone. The events of the movie take place in the '90s, but the look of the movie, the color, the music and the font of all the titles are very '60s and in some cases '80s. It's really strange. It's like they captured the wrong era or something.
RYAN: Totally! The font is like Austin Powers meets Woodstock. It's very confusing. Plus it's a little hard to follow at times; I wasn't sure if the lead guy had A.D.D. or if I just wasn't getting it.
CAROLINE: Yes, but his inner monologues as shown in Matt Damon's voice over are hilarious. That was a highlight of the movie for me. I laughed out loud a few times.
RYAN: There are some fun cameos including both Smothers brothers.
CAROLINE: I also recognized several comedians like Tom Papa, Joel McHale, Paul F. Tompkins and Patton Oswalt. That part was fun. And there are some fun scenes with hidden cameras and corporate espionage that reminded me of "The Firm," which was funny because they make references to "The Firm" later in the movie.
RYAN: It definitely could have been cut down a little though. It started to drag at the end.
CAROLINE: Big time. There are light, funny moments but then it gets heavy on the corporate stuff and I lost interest. Almost like "Duplicity" earlier this year. Not a good thing.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
CAROLINE: This movie started strong, but I didn't love it. I did enjoy Matt Damon, but there were no other big stars in it unless you count Scott Bakula. Maybe this just isn't my kind of move. Though it's being compared to "Burn After Reading," which I loved.
RYAN: I was definitely way more excited to see this movie than I was entertained by it. I could still see it getting a nomination or do but I don't see it doing very well at the box office. Young people won't really get it. It's definitely for a mature audience with an attention span.
RYAN: Sadly, there's not much love happening in "Love Happens," the new Jennifer Aniston/Aaron Eckhart movie.
CAROLINE: What a lame title. I was prepared for heavy schmaltz in this movie, but I was pleasantly surprised by the first 45 minutes or so. It was well acted, the story was established very well and I even got misty a couple times. Then the second half started.
RYAN: Seriously. Even I misted up at one point. Early on, I turned to you and said, "This movie is better than I expected." But as soon as I said that, I must have jinxed it.
CAROLINE: [laughs] The movie took a serious downturn during the slam poetry night scene, and never recovered. It became dull and long and overwrought.
RYAN: And the title is so misleading! Jennifer Aniston basically has a supporting role; it's totally Aaron Eckhart's film. The movie is much more about him as a self-help guru dealing with pain and loss and leading seminars to help others do the same. Where was the romance that's indicated in the title?!
CAROLINE: Totally! There were so many long, drawn-out scenes about death and losing loved ones. It was a weeper. So not what I expected.
RYAN: They spent way to much time on the storyline of the dude from "Fargo" dealing with his son's death. I was like, "Can we please get back to Jenny Ani now?"
CAROLINE: There were parts I enjoyed, and some touching moments. Aaron and Jennifer had decent chemistry. But as the movie went on, it got worse and worse. And forgive me, but when I see a movie trailer with these two in it and it's called "Love Happens," I'm going to assume it's a romantic comedy. This movie is neither.
RYAN: It should have been called "Closure" since it's all about coping with death. It was shot and edited really well, but the soundtrack kind of sucked.
CAROLINE: Yeah, I didn't love the music either. Martin Sheen has a little part, which was a nice surprise; but then his plotline just turned cheesy and lame. A lot of convenient things happen in the movie too, like someone turns up just at the right time to overhear something he should have heard years ago. It was all very forced and predictable.
RYAN: Jennifer Aniston looks great, as usual, especially for her age. Judy Greer, who we love, has great hair in a tiny role and she's completely wasted in the this movie. She barely had any lines. CAROLINE: She needs to put on a few lbs. She's looking drawn. And that hair wasn't doing her any favors either.
RYAN: Frances Conroy from "Six Feet Under" plays Jenny Ani's mom in a strange cameo.
CAROLINE: I couldn't tell if she was supposed to be a "slow adult" or just more of a shut-in. That was a bizarre scene.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
CAROLINE: I really can't see this movie doing big box office. Why does Jennifer Aniston consistently pick mediocre films?
RYAN: She's had a couple of hits lately - hello, "Marley & Me."
CAROLINE: Whatever, I'm not talking about kids' movies. "Love Happens" was presented as a rom com and it's totally a drama, and I don't appreciate that.
RYAN: It's not even a high-caliber drama. I'm confused and disappointed by this movie. I can't recommend it.
RYAN: Finally, we've got some trailers worth talking about! The slooooww summer season is coming to an end and now we can all look forward to another romantic dramedy from Jennifer Aniston, "Love Happens." CAROLINE: Man, does she need a hit! But I'm not sure this movie is going to be it. I'm actually somewhat psyched for it though since it co-stars the very hot and talented Aaron Eckhart.
RYAN: I love him, and he's always so nice to us on the red carpet.
CAROLINE: In theory, I like Jennifer Aniston too, but I find it hard to separate Jenny Ani the Actress from Jenny Ani the Celebrity. I'm sure I'll enjoy this movie at least a little since it's a romance, but it looks like it has serious potential for cheese.
RYAN: The trailer certainly doesn't make it look like a classic. But we'll give it a shot because of the cast.
CAROLINE: Honestly, I'm more psyched for Aaron than Jennifer. Here's the trailer: RYAN: Next up is "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," an animated movie based on a kids' book.
CAROLINE: I think I remember this book from my youth! I used to love it so much that I'd actually consider seeing this movie. And that's saying something given how much I hate animated flicks. Plus I love Bill Hader, and he provides one of the main voices.
RYAN: I love Anna Faris, the other lead. The animation doesn't look particularly ground-breaking though.
CAROLINE: Maybe not, but I love the premise that food falls from the sky. I always thought the pictures in the book looked so yummy when I was little. I hope this movie delivers. I bet it'll be a hit.
RYAN: At the very least it'll be something for parents to take their kids to. Check out the trailer here:
CAROLINE: Next up is "Jennifer's Body," the highly anticipated Megan Fox horror movie written by Diablo Cody.
RYAN: I think I'm excited for this movie. The Diablo Cody factor makes it interesting; but can Megan Fox actually act?
CAROLINE: That remains to be seen. I love Amanda Seyfried, who co-stars, but it's hard for me to take this movie seriously based on the trailer.
RYAN: Well, I think they're billing it as a comedy, or at least as a horror-movie spoof.
CAROLINE: Maybe that's the problem. It just looks so campy and cheesy. I know that's kind of the point, but I'm finding it hard to get excited about it. And all the buzz about the seemingly gratuitous girl-on-girl kiss is annoying.
RYAN: I have faith in Diablo Cody. I think it'll be good, and definitely provocative. Here's the trailer:
CAROLINE: Finally, out in limited release this Friday, we have the new comedy, "The Informant!"
RYAN: I feel like it's the season's first Oscar contender, what with Matt Damon starring and Steven Soderbergh directing. CAROLINE: Matt got really paunchy for this movie, and he has a bad mustache. Every time I see this trailer, it makes me laugh. The rest of the cast is promising too - Joel McHale, in his first big movie role, and many others you'll recognize.
RYAN: The premise is great, and it's based on a true story. It's about a whistle blower at a big firm in the early '90s.
CAROLINE: Sign me up! I have high hopes for this one. Here's the trailer:
1. Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, $24 million 2. 9, $10.9 million 3. Inglourious Basterds, $6.5 million 4. All About Steve, $5.8 million 5. The Final Destination, $5.5 million 6. Sorority Row, $5.3 million 7. Whiteout, $5.1 million 8. District 9, $3.6 million 9. Julie & Julia, $3.3 million 10. Gamer, $3.2 million
RYAN: This weekend's B.O. is as predictable as a Tyler Perry movie.
CAROLINE: Well played, honey. It's becoming quite unremarkable how he makes his movies and then what happens with them.
RYAN: In a season that's slow at the movies, when the studios notoriously bury the bad ones, Ty's happy to throw his thing out there and grab a numero uno.
RYAN: No it wasn't. They always have moments, but you know, still... they've all just become the same movie.
CAROLINE: Interestingly, "New Moon" made as much in pre-ticket sales this weekend as the movie "9" did.
RYAN: That's incredible.
CAROLINE: You had predicted the sci-fi animated "9" would do better than it did.
RYAN: Well, in 5 days, it opened Wednesday, remember, it made over $15 million and only cost about $33 mill to make so it's in good shape.
CAROLINE: And I can't say I'm surprised about "Whiteout" tanking. It looks awful.
RYAN: I'm so over Kate Beckinsale. And the world never seemed to catch onto Rumer Willis as an actress because her "Sorority Row" hasn't fared much better.
CAROLINE: I would have seen that for free but I never would have paid to see it. RYAN: We are nearing the approach of the Oscar contenders.
RYAN: "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself" is yet another cookie cutter Tyler Perry genre-blending dramedy like everything he's ever done, except this one stars recent Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson.
CAROLINE: After seeing one Tyler Perry movie with you last year, I can safely say I will never see another. But you've seen a bunch of his movies - how did this one measure up?
RYAN: Honey, if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. This one is identical to all the others.
CAROLINE: Does Madea make an appearance? We all know how Tyler Perry loves to do drag.
RYAN: Yes, she's in this, thankfully, and she's always my favorite part of his movies. There's never enough Madea. But I have to mention the young actress who plays the little girl in the film. She's a scene stealer and one to watch. She has one moment that stands out, even against Taraji.
CAROLINE: Isn't Mary J. Blige in it too?
RYAN: Indeed she is. And she makes this movie almost a musical. She plays a bartender but she sings at the bar too, and she's great; at the singing anyway. Her acting is only so-so. But the musical moments are truly fab. And there's a preacher who sweats so much he makes Whitney Houston look dry.
CAROLINE: Let me guess - this movie covers topics like infidelity, domestic violence, absent fathers and kids looking for a role model or parent.
RYAN: Check, check and check. Are you sure you didn't see this movie?
CAROLINE: [laughs] We know Tyler isn't much for diversity.
RYAN: He's a director who shouldn't be directing. His material would be so much stronger with a more sophisticated director.
CAROLINE: I just don't get why he has to churn out so many movies; sometimes more than one a year. It's just not necessary. He should take more time, and that way perhaps make a stronger film.
RYAN: I hear you. I liked this movie, but I didn't love it.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
RYAN: You know who you are if you're a Tyler Perry fan, and this movie delivers on all his usual levels. It's decent for a Tyler Perry movie, but it's certainly not a great film. We all know what to expect from him at this point.
RYAN: "Sorority Row" is a new chick horror movie starring such Hollywood heavy hitters as Rumer Willis and Audrina Patridge of "The Hills."
CAROLINE: LOL. How on earth did Rumer Willis break into the business?
RYAN: And on what acting merits does Audrina get cast in a feature film?
CAROLINE: Seriously. But I heard she has a small part?
RYAN: Well, we see her get killed in the trailer, so I'm not revealing much by saying she only has a line or two. And she's actually pretty good as a corpse. She lays there beautifully.
CAROLINE: So even though I didn't get to see this movie with you, I must admit the trailer was cheesy fun. Did the movie live up to it?
CAROLINE: I can't say I'm shocked; but that's disappointing.
RYAN: It became "that" horror movie, where each cast member went off on his or her own, one at a time, and got killed in an elaborately gory way.
CAROLINE: Yuck. Was it over-the-top violent?
RYAN: It was violent enough. And Carrie Fisher is in it, as the house mom of the sorority. It's a total delight to see Princess Leia again, and she's never looked more like her mom, Debbie Reynolds, than she does now in her old age.
CAROLINE: She must be desperate for a paycheck. How is Rumer's acting?
RYAN: She's pretty bad. She cries a lot and she's just annoying. But she looks better in the movie than she normally does in pictures or on the red carpet.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
RYAN: It's not a great scary movie because after the cool set-up, it gets pretty lame. I loved all the hot, bitchy sorority girls though. It was like a horror version of "Legally Blonde." But it's not a must see in the theater and probably isn't worth your time at all anyway. Plus the reveal at the end is really stupid.
RYAN: Tuesday again? Let's look at some trailers, starting with "Whiteout," the new action-thriller starring Kate Beckinsale.
CAROLINE: How she became a go-to actress for this genre, I'll never understand.
RYAN: Hello - this is what she does! Need I remind you of the "Underworld" movies and "Van Helsing"?
CAROLINE: Please don't. I can't stand that kind of crap. I prefer the dramatic Kate Beckinsale, or even the rom-com Kate.
RYAN: I like her in all genres, and this movie looks cool. It takes place in Antarctica and it's very snowy.
CAROLINE: It's a murder mystery but I can't take this movie seriously. Maybe because it seems to take itself so seriously. It looks dumb. Plus I read that it's been sitting on the shelf since last year waiting to be released.
RYAN: That's not a good sign, but I'm still interested. The trailer doesn't particularly scare me so I'm not super-psyched. But hey, I'll see it for free. Check out the trailer here:
CAROLINE: Next we have "9," an animated movie featuring the voice talents of one Elijah Wood. And look at that - it's coming out on 9/9/09.
RYAN: It's also got voices from Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly and Martin Landau. I love animated movies, and I can't wait for this one. And you might actually be interested too because it's rated PG-13 and not targeted at young kids. In fact, everything I've read about it says it's geared toward an adult audience.
CAROLINE: Yeah, but it's animated. I so don't care about this movie.
RYAN: It's produced by Tim Burton and the look of it is very cool. It's about the end of humanity and a post-apocalyptic world.
CAROLINE: Ugh. Animation and sci-fi all in one? No, thank you. But here's the trailer:
CAROLINE: It's really not a good week for me because our final trailer is for the horror movie, "Sorority Row." And you know I don't enjoy horror as a genre.
RYAN: Come on, you've enjoyed some of the ones I've made you sit through.
CAROLINE: I know, but they always give me nightmares. It's just not pleasant. Having said that, this trailer looks silly and fun. But I think the only reason anyone's talking about it is because it's got Rumer Willis, spawn of Demi and Bruce.
RYAN: Not to mention Audrina Patridge of "The Hills" fame. I'm going to assume this movie is terrible because neither of these girls can act. Maybe the fun in seeing it is that they'll both get killed.
CAROLINE: [laughs] Why is Audrina all of a sudden an actress?
RYAN: I have no idea but I'll confess that I like this trailer. I enjoy horror movies and this one looks slick and cheesy. CAROLINE: This movie has been made so many times already though. I feel like this genre serves only as a launching pad for hot, young, wannabe actresses. But hey, it worked for Jessica Biel. Remember when she was in the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake?
RYAN: I like my scary movies to be smart, intense and truly scary. This one looks like it might focus more on the gore, but I like the premise. Here's the trailer:
RYAN: You know I'm all for anything that brings "The Wizard of Oz" back into the pop culture consciousness.
CAROLINE: Yes, honey. That's why you love the Broadway musical "Wicked" so much.
RYAN: And although people are always commenting that special effects are so great today, and that a new "Wizard of Oz would be amazing"; but in reality, that's a horrible idea because you cannot redo a classic. But now some very creative power is behind a couple new, modern Oz-inspired movies.
CAROLINE: I cannot imagine how you'd handle that. I already have to deal with you dressing up as a child wizard when a new Harry Potter something happens.
RYAN: [laughs] That was just with the books. And they've concluded.
CAROLINE: So how are these going to be modern Oz's?
RYAN: The first is a collaboration between Warner Bros. and action figure/comic con'er Todd McFarlane who wants to do a dark Oz film where Dakota Fanning would play Dorothy's granddaughter.
CAROLINE: And... you just lost me.
RYAN: C'mon. I think after the new "Twilight" film, Dakota's stock will rise on our list.
CAROLINE: Speak for yourself.
RYAN: Okay. Anyway, it would be a dark, action thriller, like "Aliens," and very loosely based on anything Baum, which is a bit blasphemous to me, but still acceptable. It makes me think of the Sci Fi channel's mini-series "Tin Man" which was roughly Oz but still cool.
CAROLINE: What's the other one?
RYAN: Vanguard Films wants to do "The Oz Wars" about a war between the witches of Oz over the Emerald City.
CAROLINE: That could be cool.
RYAN: Again, not based on authentic Oz lore, but still. I want to keep Oz relevant for the kids today, so whatever it takes. I mean, I'd love an Oz theme park.
RYAN: "Extract" is the new comedy from the writer/director who brought us "Office Space," an irreverent workplace comedy.
CAROLINE: This hilarious movie focuses more on what it's like to be the boss, and it's inspired by Mike Judge's experience becoming the boss back in his "Beavis and Butt-head" days.
CAROLINE: He plays the everyman is the movie and his casting was perfect. In fact, all of the casting was brilliant. It's a fabulous ensemble including Kristen Wiig, J.K. Simmons, Beth Grant and Ben Affleck, who was so funny I almost couldn't believe it.
RYAN: He reminded me a little of Adam Sandler at times in his delivery. But other times I was like, "Is he actually funny or is it just the wig and beard?"
CAROLINE: The wig helped, but he was genuinely funny in this stoner role. There were some very funny twists in the movie, which was unexpected from a light comedy like this. I lit'rally screamed out loud with laughter at the screen a couple of times.
RYAN: I always enjoy that because you have such a great laugh. It tickles me. It is a light comedy, but it turns kinda dark at the end and almost reminded me of "Heathers." Which I love because that's one of our favorite movies. It's not a perfect movie though; I thought it dragged a little in the middle.
CAROLINE: I barely felt that. It's very funny and quick and a little over-the-top in some ways. But the scenarios are very real; I think we can all relate to the relationship drama or the workplace frustration. Then the movie takes that to the next level so it's a little twisted, which I loved.
RYAN: Gene Simmons is in this, and he's surprisingly good. But he's got the worst hair I've ever seen in my life.
CAROLINE: Sadly, his hair has been that way for a long time. I never thought the words "brilliant cameo from Gene Simmons" would come out of my mouth, but here they are. He was fab.
CAROLINE: Mike Judge definitely revisited certain "types" from "Office Space" too. Now instead of the incredibly irritating always-in-your-face boss, it's the incredibly irritating neighbor. I wanted to kill that guy every time he came on screen.
RYAN: And because of how great the ending of "Office Space" was, I kept thinking that this movie had to have a great ending. I was totally gearing up for it, and thankfully it delivers.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
CAROLINE: I've totally been looking forward to this movie and praying it would be great, and it is! I laughed out loud more times than I can count, almost to the point that it was inappropriate. I'm so pleased, Mike Judge. I definitely recommend this movie to all people with a good sense of humor.
RYAN: This isn't a movie I wasn't dying to see and probably wouldn't have paid to see based on the trailer, but I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed it, also laughed out loud a lot and am thankful that it wasn't too long like all of Judd Apatow's movies are.
CAROLINE: The new movie "All About Steve" features Sandra Bullock in yet another romantic comedy despite her many claims that she's not doing them anymore.
RYAN: So why go ahead a do one that makes you look like a total nerd?
CAROLINE: Oh my God, her hair! I pray it was a wig. It's virtually a mullet; which is fine, because she's supposed to be a geek and socially awkward. But she's just annoying in this movie. And her face is still really pretty, so the whole nerdy thing didn't really work. You can't just put a bad hairstyle on a gorgeous Hollywood actress and make me believe she's uncool.
RYAN: You know I love a rom com so I'm bummed I didn't get to see this with you. But from you've told me, it sounds like it's not worth seeing.
CAROLINE: Believe me, you missed nothing. It was pretty painful. I barely laughed even once and a couple times people were laughing out loud at the movie, not with it.
RYAN: That's tragic. How was Bradley Cooper?
CAROLINE: Hot, as always. He filmed this movie pre-"Hangover," and I suspect he wouldn't have signed on for it if he knew he was going to have this new found fame. He made the movie enjoyable for me. And I like Thomas Haden Church too. So at least the cast is good.
RYAN: What was so bad about the rest of it?
CAROLINE: The script is just awful. The dialogue is painfully lame at times; it's a wonder to me that they got such a good cast to sign on. The only redeeming thing for me, a crossword geek, is that Sandra Bullock's character is a crossword puzzle constructor. So there were a lot of fun references to the New York Times puzzle, its editor Will Shortz and other stuff that crossword people care about.
RYAN: I remember thinking from the trailer that the premise seemed good. I like that she's a bad dater with no love life who breaks all the dating rules and does dumb stuff that someone much younger would normally do.
CAROLINE: It's not a bad premise, but the scenarios she gets herself into are just so random and not believable. And Sandra tries to play awkward, but all she does to convey that is put a weird speech affect on her S's and it's rather irritating.
RYAN: Maybe a different actress would have been better in the role.
CAROLINE: I don't know; the writing was just so weak. I can't say I hated it though because of the cast. It's never a bad thing to look at Bradley Cooper for an hour and forty minutes.
-- BOTTOM LINE -- CAROLINE: It's almost embarrassing for all involved how lame this movie was. The saving grace is the cast, but it's neither funny nor romantic. I seriously don't know how Sandra Bullock got involved in producing and starring in this movie, but I'm embarrassed for her most of all. She's better than this.
RYAN: "The September Issue" is kind of like the real-life version of "The Devil Wears Prada," except much less fun.
CAROLINE: It's a documentary about Anna Wintour and her staff putting together the fall issue of Vogue, which is always the biggest, fattest issue. Or at least it used to be, pre-recession, when this movie was shot. It's funny to see them celebrating about their largest issue ever, when now in 2009 it's decreased more than 20% or something.
RYAN: It's a sign o' the times, honey.
CAROLINE: It was semi-interesting to see how they put the magazine together, but if this movie had been any longer than ninety minutes, I would have had to take a nap.
RYAN: Totally. It's very slow-paced and the music started to bug me halfway through. And I kept waiting for some level of drama, which never really came. There were a few office scenes that were funny because I think similar things go down in any office, such as resentment toward your superior. What do you think of Ms. Wintour after seeing this?
CAROLINE: She seems fine. She's obviously very accomplished, and she didn't come off as bitchy or anything. But it would have been a much more interesting movie if it were from the perspective of her underlings. Mainly what I came away with was that I cannot believe that three of the homeliest women I've ever seen are running the most respected fashion mag in the world. I realize they're all older and we can't hold that against them; but they could at least try to look pretty. Anna Wintour at least dresses well. The other two were seriously frightening.
CAROLINE: To quote you during the movie, "Who has sex with him?" I'm sure I don't know the answer.
RYAN: I don't even know what his job is or what he contributes to Vogue. He's barely in the movie; so according to this film, I'm guessing not much.
CAROLINE: He just sits next to Anna at fashion shows. He's her gay best friend who she's kept around all this time. Good for him, I guess.
RYAN: I liked seeing the similarities to "The Devil Wears Prada," like Anna Wintour's office which was identical to how it was in "Prada." Plus all the assistants and the photo shoots and racks of clothing. And there were a few fun scenes of Anna at home with her daughter. I just wish there was some drama. I'm wondering if they caught some but weren't allowed to put it in the movie or something.
CAROLINE: Yeah, it was pretty dull. It's well made, I suppose, just not very compelling. It's just a look at how a fashion magazine gets put together. Sort of cool, but not very exciting. The scenes with Sienna Miller, the cover model for the issue, were cool, but few and far between.
RYAN: It's not a documentary like "Every Little Step" or a Michael Moore film that will really affect or inspire you, unless you're really into fashion. CAROLINE: I think we're both into fashion enough to appreciate the movie, but not rave about it. We love "Project Runway," for example, but I don't care enough about Anna Wintour to love this movie.
RYAN: She came across as apathetic and uninspired in some scenes.
CAROLINE: I also noticed that rather than give her opinion on a photo spread, she'd ask other people what they thought first. Almost like she needed their approval. She also wears the exact same style of dress every day.
RYAN: And her hair hasn't changed since she was 17.
-- BOTTOM LINE --
CAROLINE: It's fine, but not nearly as exciting as I'd expected or hoped. If you don't care about fashion or live in NYC or Paris, this is not a movie for you.
RYAN: And even if you are totally into fashion, you're going to like "The Devil Wears Prada" more than this. I guess you could Netflick it, but it's definitely not a must-see on the big screen.
CAROLINE: The week before Labor Day is notoriously slow for movies, though we do have a couple of decent looking ones this Trailer Tuesdays. I, for one, am very excited for the Mike Judge-directed "Extract."
RYAN: Me too! This trailer is hilarious. Could we love Jason Bateman more? I think not. He's aging like a fine wine.
CAROLINE: And Kristen Wiig's in it! And J.K. Simmons! Even Ben Affleck seems funny in the trailer. Plus I'm a huge fan of "Office Space," which Mr. Judge also directed. I really hope this movie delivers.
RYAN: I have high hopes too, mostly because of Kristen Wiig. The scene in the trailer with her in her sweats is brilliant.
CAROLINE: My expectations are high, people. I'm expecting comedy gold, and I better not be disappointed. Check out the trailer here:
RYAN: Next up is "Gamer" starring one of my favorite Hollywood hotties, Gerard Butler.
CAROLINE: I know you love him, but I just can't see the hotness. Plus this totally looks like a boy movie.
RYAN: It does, but how cool is the premise?! Video gamers controlling real-life people and every move they make? It's phenom!
CAROLINE: I must admit it's kind of cool. I had written off this movie completely until I saw the trailer. I still don't want to see it, but it's definitely an original idea. I'd probably like this movie for about ten minutes and then have to leave.
RYAN: I probably wouldn't be that interested but for the Gerard factor. That definitely kicks it up a notch. Check out the trailer here:
CAROLINE: Lastly, we have the much anticipated - by me, anyway - Sandra Bullock movie, "All About Steve," in which she plays a crossword puzzle constructor who's lusting after Bradley Cooper. And honey, who wouldn't be?
RYAN: Wow, this one is so up your alley. You're crossword puzzle obsessed!
CAROLINE: Exactly. This was filmed before Bradley's big summer smash, "The Hangover." And I'm sad to say the trailer is a little lame. I like the cast though.
RYAN: Thomas Haden Church is always good. I think it looks cute.
CAROLINE: I want it to be, but I feel like there's a reason it's being released at this time of year. It can't be that great. But neither was "The Proposal," so there you go.
RYAN: I'm confident that Sandy Bullock wouldn't choose a horrible movie. I'll bet it'll be good. Here's the trailer:
Real life best friends, known as radio's "Will & Grace," Ryan & Caroline have co-hosted the nationally syndicated radio show “Radio with a Twist,” Clear Channel's nationally syndicated talk show "PRIDE Radio with Ryan & Caroline," and currently co-host for MoxieQ. They also frequently appear as Fashion Police in Us Weekly magazine. Based on this website, the two have been tapped by Premiere Radio Networks as its official movie review duo, hosting a weekly nationally syndicated movie review segment distributed to stations across the U.S. WeSeeMovies.com has been ranked #2 in OK Magazine’s “Must List” and crowned one of the “Best Blogs Ever” by VH1’s Best Week Ever.
Official site: RyanAndCaroline.com.
I just wanted to let you know that your blog is really helping to make the world a better place!!! It's such a great resource!!! When we get the rare opportunity to see a movie, it better be a darned good one!!! Now I have your blog to help me in choosing a movie worth my time and money!!! Thank you!!! - Jorie, Las Vegas
This is the funniest blog ever! Seriously - who are you people??!! You need to be discovered! I laugh out loud every third line. It's BRILLIANT! - Jessica, NYC
I must say this blog rocks the planet like Janet! You two are hi-lar. Keep up the good work! We love you here in Utah! - Jenny M., Utah
RYAN: It's time for Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Capitalism: A Love Story."
RYAN: I like him as a documentary filmmaker primarily because he's entertaining. This is typical Michael Moore fare; he likes to be controversial and press buttons. At this point, he's pretty recognizable, so some of the people he's trying to hoodwink in the movie are onto him.
CAROLINE: I'm just a little bit over Michael Moore's in-your-face ways lately.
CAROLINE: Well, that was evident from "Sicko." I can't say I'm too interested in this movie, though I have enjoyed some of his previous films.
